April 28, a day I always celebrate.
On this day in 1972 I hired in at the car plant.
Plan was to work a year or two and then move to California. That first year or so, was hell, but I was determined to do it, never missed a day. Ended up working in an area that had the first female foreperson, plus she was a person of color. Most of the guys hated her and gave her crap. I liked her and never gave her a hard time and we got along great. Well that paid off and when a saw a posting for a clerk job I signed up. First question was "what is your attendance record" I said perfect and the only other thing was to talk to my boss. I was in and the greatest job in the shop.
Skip 30 years and in 2002 April 28 I did it "30 and out" with full benefits. Got 6 more years and I'll have collected retirement for the same length of time I worked. Have the best insurance money can't buy. Doctors and prescriptions, I pay nothing.
Think I'll celebrate today by going our for a 5 mile run.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Union shop, right? 
and I retired in 99. We're paying it forward! 
I was in the army forty years ago and there was a sgt that everyone hated. Well I got along with him because I don't hate anyone. He first made me an ammunition handler and as that progressed he promoted me to an E-4 Ammunition handling specialist. A nice bump in a pay raise and I moved into military housing instead of living off the economy with a $230 housing allowance.
